Genetic Constitution of Parthenogenetic Form of Polydrusus inustus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) – Hints of Hybrid Origin and Recombinations

Abstract

Genetic constitution of parthenogenetic form of Polydrusus inustus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) hints of hybrid origin and recombinations. Folia biol. (Kraków) #%: 149-156. Asexual reproduction among insects may arise spontaneously, as a result of infectious agents or hybridization between phylogenetically distinct organisms. Polyploidy, which may be the result of auto-or allopoliploidization (also associated with hybridization), is often connected with parthenogenesis. However, all studied parthenogens of weevils were apomictic, rare meiotic stages have been observed in a few of them what could suggests in their genomes besides the mutational changeability also recombination may occurs. We studied the level of heterozygosity in Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 sequences, and congruence of mitochondrial (cytochrome B) and nuclear genealogies among individuals of parthenogenetic form of Polydrusus inustus. High frequency (87.0%) of heterozygotes in ITS2 sequences may indicate a hybrid origin of the parthenogen. It is possible that this parthenogenetic form arose via a hybridization event between phylogenetically distinct lineages of bisexual P. inustus, known only from Georgia and Turkey, or between this species and one of the closely relatives from the subgenus Scythodrusus. Although result of partition-homogeneity test did not show significant incongruence of mitochondrial and nuclear genealogies, in the network was detected one loop. Most probable explanations for existence of that loop in parthenogenetic form and for origin of rare homozygotes, which were detected in ITS2 sequences, is gene conversion. It is supported by recently cytogenetic studies indicating rare meiotic stages during the oogenesis of triploids of P. inustus.

Cytogenetic analyses using C-banding and DAPI/CMA3 staining of four populations of the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

“…The C-banding patterns observed, as well as the absence of positive bands in the Y chromosome, corroborated literature data for most Curculionidae, as well as for several other insect species (Juan and Petitpierre 1989, Imai 1991, Rozek 1998, Almeida et al 2000, Proença et al 2002, Holecová et al 2002, 2008, 2013, Rozek et al 2004, Zacaro et al 2004, Lachowska et al 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, Schneider et al 2007, Lachowska 2008, Kajtoch et al 2009). However, Curculionidae species with a large heterochromatic block on the genomes have been found (Holecová et al 2002, Lachowska et al 2004, 2009, Rozek et al 2004).…”

Comparative cytogenetics and derived phylogenic relationship among Sitophilus grain weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Dryophthorinae)

“…The genus Sitophilus , especially S. granarius , possesses a small amount of heterochromatin that was located preferentially at the centromeric region, as in most Curculionidae (Holecová et al 2002, 2013, Rozek et al 2004, Lachowska et al 2005, 2008, 2009, Kajtoch and Lachowska-Cierlik 2009). However, as three of the four species analysed exhibited the same heterochromatic distribution pattern, the C-banding patterns obtained did not allow further discrimination.…”

Selective sweep of Wolbachia and parthenogenetic host genomes – the example of the weevil Eusomus ovulum

“…Parthenogenetic forms or taxa are known in the weevil family (Curculionidae); however, unisexual lineages have been confirmed only in a relatively small proportion of weevil genera. In Europe, parthenogenesis have been found in Brachysomus , Cathormiocerus , Eusomostrophus , Eusomus , Omias , Otiorrhynchus , Parafoucartia , Phyllobius , Polydrusus , Sciaphilus , Simo , Strophosoma , Trachyphloeus and Tropiphorus (Mikulska, ; Suomalainen, ; Suomalainen & Saura, ; Lokki et al ., ; Suomalainen et al ., ; Tomiuk et al ., ; Korotyaev & Meleshko, ; Stenberg et al ., ; Holecová et al ., ; Lachowska et al ., ; Kajtoch & Lachowska‐Cierlik, ; Rożek et al ., ; Kajtoch et al ., ). Most parthenogenetic weevils have been identified on the basis of morphological analyses and a lack of males in the whole species range or in some populations (Mikulska, ; Suomalainen, ; Suomalainen & Saura, ; Lokki et al ., ; Suomalainen et al ., ; Tomiuk et al ., ; Korotyaev & Meleshko, ; Stenberg et al ., ).…”

“…Many of these species have also been investigated cytogenetically, which has led to the description of several polyploid lineages with prevalent tri‐ and tetraploids (Lachowska et al ., ; Rożek et al ., ). The best known parthenogenetic forms, including genetics, are found amongst Polydrusus ( P. mollis , Suomalainen, ; Lokki et al ., ; Saura et al ., ; Tomiuk et al ., ; P. inustus and P. pilifer complex, Korotyaev & Meleshko, ; Kajtoch & Lachowska‐Cierlik, ; Kajtoch et al ., ) and Otiorhynchus weevils ( O. scaber , Saura et al ., ; Stenberg et al ., ; and O. salicis , Saura et al ., ). Moreover, Wolbachia infection has been confirmed for parthenogenetic forms of Polydrusus weevils (Kajtoch & Lachowska‐Cierlik, ); however, the role of this bacterium in parthenogenesis induction has not been confirmed (Kajtoch et al ., ).…”

“…The best known parthenogenetic forms, including genetics, are found amongst Polydrusus ( P. mollis , Suomalainen, ; Lokki et al ., ; Saura et al ., ; Tomiuk et al ., ; P. inustus and P. pilifer complex, Korotyaev & Meleshko, ; Kajtoch & Lachowska‐Cierlik, ; Kajtoch et al ., ) and Otiorhynchus weevils ( O. scaber , Saura et al ., ; Stenberg et al ., ; and O. salicis , Saura et al ., ). Moreover, Wolbachia infection has been confirmed for parthenogenetic forms of Polydrusus weevils (Kajtoch & Lachowska‐Cierlik, ); however, the role of this bacterium in parthenogenesis induction has not been confirmed (Kajtoch et al ., ). Finally, Wolbachia has been found and examined in other, extra‐European, weevils, and the role of infection in the induction of parthenogenesis has been postulated for American Naupactini (Werren et al ., ; Rodriguero et al ., ) and Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Stenopelmini) (Chen et al ., ), for example.…”